A day of two halves

I have been trying to get to this museum for a while, and been wondering when I would be able to go, as it is not open to the public very often. The “History on Wheels” museum in Eton Wick is a private collection of militaria, military vehicles, civilian vehicles, and many other items from the 40s and 50s, plus other odd bits and pieces.

Driving into the car park there was an array of items to whet your appetite. These included a small car park of old police cars, a small Second World War tank, a small First World War tank, and a couple of red and white guard boxes complete with barrier.

The museum was started by a person who initially collected military badges, then uniforms, and then acquired a couple of vehicles (Dad, I’ve seen a tank on eBay!). At the same time he was asked to provide vehicles for the film “The Battle of Britain”, and from here moved into supplying vehicles and uniforms for many other films including “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. And this is still done by the museum today as TLO Film Services. Click the German officer to see some photos.

Many of the items are German which are more difficult to obtain, because much of the German army equipment was destroyed in or after the Second World War. This gives a different perspective as many militaria displays focus on British and American items.

The access for a wheelchair is tight but not impossible. There are small humps at every door where an attempt at putting in a ramp has been made, but the sills are still high enough to beach you between the front and back wheels. To get out to the cafe patio area a member of staff had to move a number of exhibits, including a life sized 1950s uniformed policeman. There is no disabled loo. You should also be aware that they do not accept cards and are cash only.

We met our friends at the museum and after we had had a good look around, and a cheese toastie from the NAAFI for lunch, we decided to enjoy the rest of the day at the nearby Cliveden National Trust property.